Welder removal usually isn't, surprisningly, an issue most of the time. When opposing welders are used aggressivly, I board in Coffin purges as a nigh uncounterable target removal for graveyard targets, and pitchable to bazaars if need be, and when opposing welders are used defensivly, save anglel your welder targets will still do their stuff, and if worse comes to worse, you have Animate Dead, which is really the pushing card. The problem I have vs. CS is that it's drawing usually digs it into just enough counterspells and lava darts to keep you barely out of the game. Uba mask really helps against CS if you can get it out, and is usually my prime Tinker target. It just basically shuts them down most of the time, as now they actually have to hard cast slavers to get them into play, and they will never be able to hold a counterspell again, at least that you wont know about. Coffin purge also really helps, along with additional Trikes, and I'm sure that theirs some card I just can't think of that would nich that game. Any comment on the perfect anti-slaver card would be much appreciated. Cerebral Assasin actually does perform well. Its a deck that usually just misses top 8, or makes top 8 in less high profile tournies. If you look at tournament results, besides 5/3, slaver, and maybe stax, CA is performing very well.
The last comment I would like to make is that with the addition of Intuition, keeping a welder in play for just one turn will more than likely win you the game.
EDIT: Upon furthure inspection of the current matchup, CS is no longer a problem for CA, and in fact is slightly in CA's favor. The deck looks shakey, esspecially mana wise, but even crucible-strip (in 5/3) is often not enough to take this deck out, as it really never needs that many lands.
Yes, with ease. I played FoodChain goblins at TMD, and even with 2 artifact mutations on my Titan game 2 he couldn't pull a victory. The thing is, the only deck I've ever had problems with is CS. Sligh actually usually wins vs. you game 1 as they have everything that hurts you, welder kill, non-basic hate, etc. However, chalice for 1/2 usually shuts them down game 2 and 3, so its not that hard a match. Madness has got nothing on you. Your threats are better, your lock is too strong, and you have so many easy outs to their problems. GAT is the only deck I haven't tested that you listed, but I guess I will.
The addition of Dragon Combo (1 dragon) is a huge help in almost all matchups. In exchange for 2 slots, it offers an opportunity to win when you have no right to, and out of nowhere. The other benifit is that it makes opponants think you are playing another deck.
Yes, the deck does have a messed up mana base, but the deck's versitality allows it a lot of ways to "just win." This deck can play combo, control, or agro at will. 4 Intuition, you will find, is much better than TFK, and allows you to play any of the previous at will.
I found that the lands never really kill you. The lost life is usually irrelevent in who comes out the victor, and the Gemstone mines usually go a long time if you play them right. The only flaw of the orriginal decklist is it's welder dependence. I think that that dependence isn't quite as great now in my build.
I've played this deck for a while now, and I really like it. I came in 38th at TMD with a pretty bad version of it, and I come with the following suggestions:
Try running 4 intuitions. Intuition for Portal, Squee, Squee will win you so many games, trust me. It is better than TFK in this deck.
I've been experimenting with adding a Dragon and a Witness to the deck, and it gives the deck a quick way to win out of nowhere. I really like it.
Your board seems a little obsolete. I have found that any deck that I play against that has enchantments is usually pretty easily won for me anyway, so that I have cut Ray. I have also found the Blasts, however stupid this may sound, to be subpar. I have added Coffin Purge, to deal with Dr4g0n, other CAs, CSs, and other graveyardy decks. I have also been experimenting with a 'toolbox' sideboard containing Trike, Jester's Mask, Angel, 3sphere, and Uba mask.
Well, thats just my 2 cents.
If I were you, I would just run strait up CS or CA, the splice you propossed seems to be worse than both in its own respects. Could you post how this is better than CA?
Talking from a CA perspective, I would highly recomend at least one Possessed portal with the addition of more squees. Two squees is too little for a bazaar deck, and intuition for Portal, Squee, Squee is so unbelivably awsome.
Why not use Eternal Witnes?
Infinite counters + Ancestrals = Good times.
Only works in bazaar builds, thoug, but if you aren't running bazaars, well, then your probably not going to do too well no matter what you use.
The last comment I would like to make is that with the addition of Intuition, keeping a welder in play for just one turn will more than likely win you the game.
EDIT: Upon furthure inspection of the current matchup, CS is no longer a problem for CA, and in fact is slightly in CA's favor. The deck looks shakey, esspecially mana wise, but even crucible-strip (in 5/3) is often not enough to take this deck out, as it really never needs that many lands.
The addition of Dragon Combo (1 dragon) is a huge help in almost all matchups. In exchange for 2 slots, it offers an opportunity to win when you have no right to, and out of nowhere. The other benifit is that it makes opponants think you are playing another deck.
Yes, the deck does have a messed up mana base, but the deck's versitality allows it a lot of ways to "just win." This deck can play combo, control, or agro at will. 4 Intuition, you will find, is much better than TFK, and allows you to play any of the previous at will.
I found that the lands never really kill you. The lost life is usually irrelevent in who comes out the victor, and the Gemstone mines usually go a long time if you play them right. The only flaw of the orriginal decklist is it's welder dependence. I think that that dependence isn't quite as great now in my build.
However, the file is still to big -_-.
Try running 4 intuitions. Intuition for Portal, Squee, Squee will win you so many games, trust me. It is better than TFK in this deck.
I've been experimenting with adding a Dragon and a Witness to the deck, and it gives the deck a quick way to win out of nowhere. I really like it.
Your board seems a little obsolete. I have found that any deck that I play against that has enchantments is usually pretty easily won for me anyway, so that I have cut Ray. I have also found the Blasts, however stupid this may sound, to be subpar. I have added Coffin Purge, to deal with Dr4g0n, other CAs, CSs, and other graveyardy decks. I have also been experimenting with a 'toolbox' sideboard containing Trike, Jester's Mask, Angel, 3sphere, and Uba mask.
Well, thats just my 2 cents.
Any assistance would be greatly appreciated, and any improvements anyone would like to make without increasing file size would also be appreciated.
PS. Here's the url: http://img182.exs.cx/img182/3576/glixavy15me.gif
Talking from a CA perspective, I would highly recomend at least one Possessed portal with the addition of more squees. Two squees is too little for a bazaar deck, and intuition for Portal, Squee, Squee is so unbelivably awsome.
Just my 2 cents.
Infinite counters + Ancestrals = Good times.
Only works in bazaar builds, thoug, but if you aren't running bazaars, well, then your probably not going to do too well no matter what you use.